A Productive Conversation

A Productive Conversation

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A Productive Conversation episodes

  • BONUS EPISODE: Dominic Zijlstra talks about Traverse App

    Here is an extra special bonus episode with Dominic Zijlstra - the creator of the learning app Traverse.link. He's an ed-tech entrepreneur and polyglot. He helps professionals learn faster and remember more using science-based learning methods.

    Dominic built traverse to have an app where you have all the tools that you need specifically for learning and have them in a way that makes sure that what you need to learn is in your brain rather than just being a tool.

    We talk about learning and retention, we dissect traverse.link and why it really works, and we dive into where his obsession with learning began.

    He's been working on this app for a while and it's showing a lot of promise - I am excited to shine a spotlight on him in this episode of A Productive Conversation with Mike Vardy

    Links Worth Exploring

    • Connect with Dominic: Website | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn
    • Join Dominic's Super Learning Mini Course & Newsletter
    • View and copy Mike Vardy's Traverse Mind Map here
    • Related Conversation: Episode 397: Jesse Mecham talks about YNAB, Money Management and Future You
    • Related Blog Post: How to Trick Yourself into Learning Faster

    • Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.

      Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.

      Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher

      You can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.

      Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.

      Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

      36 min
    • FROM THE VAULT: How to Fight a Hydra with Josh Kaufman

      This week we are bringing this excellent episode with Josh Kaufman out of the vault. He is the author of three bestselling books – including How to Fight a Hydra: Face Your Fears, Pursue Your Ambitions, and Become the Hero You Are Destined to Be. Josh’s research focuses on business, entrepreneurship, skill acquisition, productivity, creativity, applied psychology, and practical wisdom and he’s someone I’ve wanted to have on the show for a long time.

      Josh and I carry on a conversation that revolves around the differences between How to Fight a Hydra and his previous books, the power of story (particularly fables and parables), why I never thought of Josh as a productivity expert yet he describes himself as such, and much more.

      I had a fantastic time chatting with Josh and I enjoyed revisiting this conversation. I hope you do, too.

      Links Worth Exploring

      • Connect with Josh: Website | Twitter 
      • Buy Josh's book How to Fight a Hydra: Face Your Fears, Pursue Your Ambitions, and Become the Hero You Are Destined to Be
      • See what Josh is doing now
      • Check out The Legend of Bagger Vance by Steven Pressfield
      • Related Conversation: Episode 238: How to Keep Going with Austin Kleon
      • Related Blog Post: “No, Fear.”

      • Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.

        Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.

        Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher

        You can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.

        Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.

        Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

        35 min
      • Moah talks about Boomerang

        Aye Moah, who goes by Moah (pronounced Moe), is taking over the helm as CEO of Boomerang which 2 million savvy active users rely on to spend less time on email and more time on what matters to them. Their loyal user base has saved over 500 years of their lives since 2011 that would otherwise have been spent in email hell.

        Ironic (or should we say iconic) for someone who arrived at MIT and announced they were going to major in Computer Science without ever having an email address. Yes, this 5’ tall woman who, literally dodged bullets growing up in Burma, clandestinely applied to go to MIT, got a full ride, and took the first airplane flight of her life to start school. And she has never stopped punching above her weight since.

        Listen to us chat about the Boomerang app, email, and geek out about productivity!

        Links Worth Exploring

        • Connect with Moah: Twitter | LinkedIn
        • Learn more about the Boomerang app
        • Related Conversation: Episode 360: A World Without Email with Cal Newport
        • Related Blog Post: The One Email Trick That Keeps My Inbox In Shape

        • Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.

          Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.

          Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher

          You can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.

          Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.

          Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

          31 min
        • Laura Vanderkam talks about Tranquility by Tuesday

          Join Laura Vanderkam and I having an easy and interesting conversation about Time Management.

          If you haven't heard our previous conversations, Laura’s work has appeared in various publications and media outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Today Show, and Fox & Friends among many others. She co-hosts the Best of Both Worlds podcast and has delivered a TED talk with more than 5 million views.

          We talk about her latest book, Tranquillity by Tuesday: Nine Ways to Calm the Chaos and Make Time for What Matters. We cover the most challenging way that people found to calm the chaos and make time for what matters. She offers a simple and familiar way to future-proof something that you've scheduled. And most importantly, how the 9 rules came to be and how to work through them.

          Links Worth Exploring

          • Connect with Laura: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn
          • Buy Laura's Book: Tranquillity by Tuesday: Nine Ways to Calm the Chaos and Make Time for What Matters
          • Listen to Laura's Podcasts:
          • Best of Both Worlds Podcast
          • Before Breakfast with Laura Vanderkam
          • The New Corner Office Podcast
          • Read Laura's Blog Posts
          • Related Conversation: Off the Clock with Laura Vanderkam
          • Related Blog Post: Hit The Snooze Button To Be More Productive

          • Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.

            Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.

            Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher

            You can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.

            Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.

            Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

            40 min
          • Robin Hills talks about Resilience

            This week I had Robin Hills on the show to talk about resilience.

            He's the author of the Authority Guide to Emotional Resilience in Business Strategies to Manage Stress and Weather Storms in the Workplace. He's the director of EI4Change, a company specializing in training, coaching, and personal development focused on emotional intelligence, positive psychology, and neuroscience. He has over 35 years of business and commercial experience, as well as spoken keynotes.

            We dive deep into what it really means to be resilient, what it isn't, where the confusion may lie and how confusion can rear its ugly head. Robin busts some old myths and how emotions are an important factor.

            Links Worth Exploring

            • Connect with Robin: Website | LinkedIn
            • Check out his book Emotional Resilience in Business Strategies to Manage Stress and Weather Storms in the Workplace
            • Register for Robin's EI4Change courses here
            • Related Conversation: The Year of Fear with Kendra Wright
            • Related Blog Post: Book Review: The Obstacle is The Way

            • Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.

              Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.

              Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher

              You can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.

              Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.

              Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

              39 min
            • FROM THE VAULT: Jon Acuff talks about Finish

              From the vault this week, we have Jon Acuff – a New York Times bestselling author of multiple books. In this episode, we discussed Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done. John's delivered some other great stuff since this discussion, including a book called Soundtracks that I highly recommend you check out after listening to this conversation.

              Jon helps some of the world’s biggest brands tell their story and has appeared on CNN, Fox News, Good Day LA, and other major media outlets.

              We discussed a sampling of the topics in his book, Finish, which includes planning, prioritizing, and reaching the state of finished no matter what you’re working on.

              Links Worth Exploring

              • Connect with Jon: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn
              • Buy Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done
              • Check out his latest book Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking
              • Listen to All it Takes is a Goal with Jon Acuff
              • Join Jon's Weekly Idea Experiment
              • Related Conversation: Overlap with Sean McCabe
              • Related Blog Post: How To Find Your Way Forward (And Finish)

              • Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.

                Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.

                Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher

                You can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.

                Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.

                Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

                34 min
              • Todd Henry talks about The Daily Creative

                Todd Henry is returning for another productive conversation.

                He's the author of several books, and an international speaker on creativity, productivity, and passion for work, as well as a coach for people and teams to help them generate brilliant ideas.

                This week, we are discussing his latest book, The Daily Creative.

                We talk about what it was like to put this book together, how you should go through the book, and then we take certain passages of the book and discuss them.. and it's very likely that the Cincinnati Bengals come up.

                It's a fun and productive conversation that you don't want to miss.

                Links Worth Exploring

                • Connect with Todd: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
                • Buy Todd's latest book: Daily Creative: A Practical Guide for Staying Prolific, Brilliant, and Healthy
                • Listen to the Accidental Creative Podcast
                • Check out The Daily Creative
                • Join Mike's TimeCrafting Trust community
                • Watch this Quentin Tarantino video
                • Related Conversation: Episode 340: Your Motivation Code with Todd Henry
                • Related Blog Post: On Doing What Really Needs Doing

                • Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.

                  Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.

                  Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher

                  You can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.

                  Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.

                  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

                  29 min
                • Joey Cofone talks about The Laws of Creativity

                  This week I am joined by the founder and CEO of Baronfig, Joey Cofone.

                  Joey is an award-winning designer and entrepreneur living and working in NYC who has designed and art-directed over 100 products from zero to launch.

                  With over a decade of ideas, notes, and journaling - Joey has published his book The Laws of Creativity: Unlock your Originality and Awaken your Creative Genius. A book that he hopes will serve the purpose of enlightening people on creativity; how it works and how they can harness it.

                  During our conversation we dive into the different laws, discuss the way the book has been constructed, and we ultimately get to the idea of how creativity and productivity are related.

                  Links Worth Exploring

                  • Connect with Joey: Website | Instagram | Twitter
                  • Buy Joey's book: The Laws of Creativity: Unlock your Originality and Awaken your Creative Genius
                  • Check out what Baronfig has to offer
                  • Related Conversation: Episode 228: Tailoring Tools for Thinkers with Joey Cofone
                  • Related Blog Post: Taking Journaling to Another Level

                  • Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.

                    Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.

                    Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher

                    You can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.

                    Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.

                    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

                    34 min
                  • Katie Stoddart talks about The Focus Bee

                    In this episode, I am joined by Katie Stoddard.

                    Katie is an award-winning international coach whose mission is to support entrepreneurs, founders and executives world-wide to reach higher levels of performance.

                    She is the person behind The Focus Bee. She hosts a super informative podcast, The Focus Bee Show and is the writer behind The Focus Bee Blog. During this conversation, primarily around focus, we talk about precision, resilience, and the fascinating idea of equanimity.

                    I enjoyed talking to someone who has a passion for productivity, and especially an element of productivity and its focus. 

                    Links Worth Exploring

                    • Connect with Katie: Website | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter
                    • Grab Katie's FREE e-book here
                    • Listen to Katie's podcast: The Focus Bee Show
                    • Related Conversation: What Goes Into a Task App with Amir Salihefendic
                    • Related Blog Post: The Thing About Focus

                    • Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.

                      Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.

                      Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher

                      You can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.

                      Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.

                      Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

                      29 min
                    • FROM THE VAULT: Getting Productive With Astrology with Jill Blumenstock

                      This week's featured vault episode is with guest, Jill Blumenstock!

                      Jill is a certified Yoga Teacher and Vedic Astrologer, and has seen firsthand the impact of tuning into your own natural rhythms. It’s a time guide that’s beyond just your horoscope; you learn how to best manage your time. In this episode, we uncover how to chart your astrological patterns, how to apply it to your daily life – and hear Jill’s live reading of me!

                      Links Worth Exploring

                      • Connect with Jill: Website | Instagram | Facebook
                      • Click here to schedule a Vedic Reading with Jill
                      • Buy Eviatar's book: The Seven Day Circle: The History and Meaning of the Week
                      • Related Conversation: Episode 331: It’s Time to Slow Things Down (Mike Vardy solo episode!)
                      • Related Blog Post: The Speed of Right

                      • Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.

                        Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.

                        Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher

                        You can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.

                        Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later.

                        Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

                        44 min

                      About A Productive Conversation

                      From the publisher's feed

                      Hosted by productivity strategist Mike Vardy, A Productive Conversation offers insightful discussions on how to craft a life that aligns with your intentions. Each episode dives into the art of time devotion, productiveness, and refining your approach to daily living. Mike invites guests who are thinkers, doers, and creators to share their strategies for working smarter and living more intentionally. From practical tips to deep dives on mindset shifts, this podcast will help you reframe your relationship with time and find balance in a busy world.

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